San Diego County Municipal Code Art. 3 Traffic Control Devices

The Board shall by resolution determine and designate the size, shape and character of all official warning, regulatory, and guide signs, other than the size, shape and character of which have been established by CALTANS pursuant to the Vehicle Code. The Road Commissioner may place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, all official warning and guide signs necessary to the proper control of traffic and all regulatory signs required or authorized by this division or the Vehicle Code.

(Amended by Ord. No. 10646 (N.S.), effective 2-14-20)

No provision of this division for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator thereof unless appropriate signs are in place and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person, giving notice of such provision.

The Board shall by resolution designate what intersections shall be controlled by official traffic control signals.

The Road Commissioner shall place, maintain and operate, or cause to be placed, maintained and operated all official traffic control signals authorized by the Board as herein provided.

The Road Commissioner shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic control device shall be in operation or be in effect, except in those cases where such hours or days are specified in this division or established by resolution of the Board.

The Road Commissioner may place and maintain such traffic control devices in addition to those authorized by other provisions of this division as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic, but he shall make such determination only upon the basis of traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations and in accordance with such standards, limitations and rules as may be established by division or resolution of the Board.

It shall be unlawful for any operator or pedestrian to at any time violate any instruction appearing on any traffic sign or signal or marking placed upon any highway in accordance with the provisions of this division.

The Road Commissioner shall provide and maintain painted markings or other appropriately devised symbols or warning signs at all crosswalks which have been designated as such by the Board. He may do so at such other crosswalks where, in his opinion, such symbols or warning signs are necessary.

The Road Commissioner may place appropriate traffic guidelines dividing highways into the number of traffic lanes that is proper and necessary, and may place such other pavement markings as are necessary to direct vehicular movements in accordance with requirements of this division and the Vehicle Code.

Whenever the State Department of Public Works determines and designates a distinctive roadway marking which shall indicate no driving over such marking, the Road Commissioner is authorized to designate by such marking those streets or parts of streets where the volume of traffic or the vertical or other curvature of the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such marking or signs and markings. Such marking or signs and marking shall have the same effect as similar markings placed by the State Department of Public Works pursuant to provisions of this Vehicle Code.

The Road Commissioner shall indicate by appropriate signs of a type approved by the Department of Transportation of the State of California those intersections of bridle paths and highways which the Board, pursuant to Section 21805 of the Vehicle Code, by resolution has designated as equestrian crossings.

(Amended by Ord. No. 4696 (N.S.), effective 5-27-76)

Whenever, because of the construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any highway, or because of other emergency, compliance with any prohibition of this division, including a prohibition pursuant to any action of the Board taken in accordance with this division, will create a traffic hazard and the Road Commissioner so finds, he shall either remove or cover up any sign or other traffic marking which informs persons of such prohibition. While such sign or other marking is removed or covered the effect of such prohibition is suspended. At the end of such emergency, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Road Commissioner shall replace or uncover such sign or other marking.

It shall be unlawful for any person to maliciously tear down, damage, mutilate, deface or destroy any sign, notice or traffic control device placed upon or along or affixed to or along any County highway or any property, which sign, notice or traffic control device is intended to indicate or designate any highway or is intended to direct, control or warn operators or travelers.

Upon approval of the Board the Road Commissioner may issue a permit to a School District authorizing such District to maintain within a County right-of-way a portable school crossing sign and/or flasher. Such permit may be issued on the terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Road Commissioner for the protection of the public. Any such permit issued by the Road Commissioner shall contain a provision that it may be revoked by the Road Commissioner for violation of any of the terms or conditions of such permit.

(a) The Board, by resolution, may close to vehicular traffic that portion of any street or highway crossing or dividing any school ground or grounds when in the opinion of the Board such closing is necessary for the protection of persons attending such school or school grounds. Such closing to vehicular traffic may be limited to such hours and days as the Board may specify.

(b) Upon and for the duration of closure of a portion of any street or highway as above in Section (a) provided, the school district within whose district said closed portions lies shall post and maintain at each end of said closed portion and at other appropriate locations barricades and signs giving notice of such closure to the public. The type, posting and maintenance of such barricades and signs shall be under such terms and conditions as is deemed necessary or appropriate by the Surveyor and Road Commissioner for the protection of the public.

(Added by Ord. No. 2491 (N.S.), effective 2-7-63)

The Road Commissioner is hereby authorized to restrict the use of, or close, any County highway whenever he considers such closing or restriction of use necessary:

(a) For the protection of the public.

(b) For the protection of such county highway from damage during storms.

(c) During construction, improvement or maintenance operations thereon.

No liability shall attach to the County, the Road Commissioner or to the Board of Supervisors of the County, for the restriction of use, or closing, of any County highway for the above public purposes.

(Added by Ord. No. 3148 (N.S.), effective 1-11-68)

Roadway Design Features such as islands, curbs, and permanent or intermittent traffic barriers may be used to prohibit entry to, or exit from, or both, from any County Highway in such a manner as to help implement or to be consistent with the circulation element of the County General Plan.

(a) Roadway Design Features, as set forth above, that would prohibit existing through traffic on a County Highway may be allowed on a local County Highway when determined by the Board to protect public health and safety, however such features shall be prohibited on circulation element roads.

(b) Any request for a Roadway Design Feature that would prohibit existing through traffic either permanently, intermittently or in one direction on a local County Highway shall be approved by the Board. If the request for the Roadway Design Feature is not:

(1) Part of a Board approved roadway improvement plan,

(2) An intermittent barrier, or

(3) A barrier prohibiting through traffic in one direction,

a one-foot strip of roadway right-of-way perpendicular to the centerline of the road shall be vacated to the abutting property owners. The requestor, at their cost, shall apply for the vacation and this vacation shall follow the Road Opening or Closure (Vacation) procedure as presently administered by the Department of Planning and Development Services. An intermittent barrier may be used during a specified period to prohibit through traffic on a local County Highway. A permanent barrier may be used to prohibit through traffic in one or both directions on a local County Highway.

(c) (1) Any barrier that has been previously approved by the Board pursuant to Section 942.5 of the Streets and Highways Code may remain in place upon a determination by the Board pursuant to subdivision (f) of Vehicle Code Section 21101 that the barrier is needed to protect public health and safety.

(2) Prior to action by the Board, the Planning Commission upon request of the Road Commissioner, shall make a recommendation to the Board as to whether an existing barrier should remain or be removed.

(3) The Road Commissioner shall file a request with the Planning Commission for its recommendation for each existing barrier.

(4) 10 days public notice of hearing by first class mail shall be given of any meeting of the Planning Commission or the Board with regard to an existing barrier to: (1) the local planning group or sponsor group, (2) any person who requests mailed notice in writing at least 30 days before the meeting date. Failure to receive notice, however, shall not invalidate any recommendation of the Planning Commission or determination of the Board.

(d) This section constitutes rules and regulation for the use of Roadway Design Features on County Highways as authorized under Section 21101 of the California Vehicle Code.

(Added by Ord. No. 8761 (N.S.), adopted 12-17-96; amended by Ord. No. 8786 (N.S.), effective 4-29-97; amended by Ord. No. 9145 (N.S.), effective 5-21-00; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12)